Switch-actuating device



w. -s. KISINGER ET AL May 26, 1925.

SWITCH ACTUATING DEVICE Fi l'd Nov. 10, 2

WILLIAM SfIERs Knsmssn.

JAMES Asa ENSLEK 7 than;

Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT orricn.

WILLIAM STIERS KISINGER AND JAMES ASA E-NSLEY, OF C'OVINGTON, KENTUCKY;

SAID KISINGER ASSIGNOR TO SAID ENSLEY.

SWITCH-ACTUATTNG DEVICE.

Application filed November 10, 1923.

.l '0 all to k012i it 122m] concern Be it known that we, lvnamin S'rncns Klsmonn and Janus Asa ENsLnY, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Covington in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Switch-Actuating Device, of which. the following is a specification.

An object of our invention is to provide an automatic switch actuating device that is simple inconstruction and operation and that may be readily applied to switches of the push button type generally used in houses for electrical illumination.

Another object of our inventionis to provide a simple and efficient device for the purpose stated.

Another object of our invention is to provide a device that will automatically operate after a determinable period of time after same has been conditioned for operation.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which i Fig. 1. is a side elevation, parts being broken away, of a device embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device after same has performed its work.

Fig. 3 is a fraglnental front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end View of a handle forming a detail of our invention.

- Fig. 5 is a plan view of a retaining eleinent lforming a detail of our invention.

Briefly our device comprises a housing or casing 6 that may be mounted upon the face plate 7 of the ordinary push button type wall switch commonly employed in houses for controlling ceiling lights and the like. An y type switch of this nature may be em ployed wherefore no detailed explanation is given thereof. Switches of this type comprise a pair of push buttons 8 and 9 either of which may be pushed inwardly of the plate 7 for opening and closing the circuit passing through the switch, and the movement of one of said push buttons inwardly serves to move the other button outwardly. The casing 6 may serve to enclose a cam 10 that is fixedly mounted on the pin 11. The pin 11 is adapted to be pivotally actuated upon the housing 6. Any suitable structure Serial No. 673,969.

for accomplishing this relationship may be employed. The cam is provided with actuating lugs '12 and 13, the lug 12 being arranged to engage push button 8 and th lug 18 being arranged toengage the push button 9. As disclosed herein the pin 11 entends through one wall of the casing 6 and has mounted on it a stem 14- suppoi'ting a hollow handle '15. The hollow handle is divided into a pair of chambers by a diaprovided for retaining the handle in a substantially vertical position above the cam 10. The spring arm may be provided with a slot 22 in its forwardly extending arm 28 for the reception of the stem 14. A lug 24 on the spring arm is secured upon the plate 7.

In the operation of our device, assuming that a person were about to retire he would release the stem 14 from the spring arm 21 and would. move the handle and cam upon their mountings on the casing until the lug 13 of the cam engaged the push button 9. By this time the handle would be so disposed that some of the mercury would flow from the chamber 17 into the chamber 18. The aperture in the diaphragm is given such a size and location that after a determinable period of time such a quantity of mercury will have flown into the chamber 17 that the shifting of the center of mass of the mercury outwardly from the pivotal mounting of the cam on the casing will serve to overcome or overbalance the resistance of the switch to themovement of the push button 9 whereupon the cam 13 will move the push button 9 inwardly thereby breaking the circuit passing through the push button switch. At this time the push button 8 will be moved outwardly. hen it is desired to again turn on the light, the handle 15 would be raised to its vertical position as shown in Fig. l whereupon the lug 12 and the cam 10 would operate upon the push button 8 for closing the circuit through the switch, the action being the converse of that for breaki g the ci u t The mercury in t Cher A fluid 20, that may be mercury, is

be 16 would then flow into the chamber 18 and the device would be conditioned for again automatically breaking the circuit through the switch. \Vhile we have shown the handle to be actuated by means or mercury, it is understood that any other suitable means, such as small shot or any weight shifting means may be enclosed within the handle for producing the same results.

lVhat we claim is:

1. The combination with a push button type switch comprising two push buttons, of a. pivotally mounted cam provided with a pair of lugs, each lug being arranged to en gage one of the push buttons, and means associated with the cam for automatically moving the cam about its pivotal mounting tor moving its respective push button said means comprising a container mounted for movement with the cam and having spaced communicating chambers therein, and a fluid for movement between the chambers for actuating the cam.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a push button type switch comprising a pair of push buttons, of a pivotally mounted cam provided with a pair of lugs, the cam being mounted for at all times having one of its lugs in engagement upon one of the push buttons, each lug being adapted to engage a. push button, a container associated with the cam and provided with a pair of communicating chambers and a fluid within the container for passage between the chambers for causing one of the cam lugs to actuate its respective push button for modifying an electrical circuit embracing the switch.

8. In a device of the class described the combination with a push button type switch comprising a pair of reciprocating push buttons arranged for sin'uiltaneous movement in opposite directions, of a pivotally mounted cam comprising a pair of lugs each arranged to engage and to move with one of the push buttons, a hollow handle extending radially from the cam, the handle hav ing a perforate diaphragm therein for dividing the interior of the handle into a pair of communicating chambers, the perforation in the diaphragm being disposed at the side of the handle remote from the push buttons and a fluid contained within the handle for passage between the chambers for moving one cam and its respective push button jointly.

4. In a device of the class described the combination with a push button type switch comprising a pair of reciprocating push buttons arranged for simultaneous movement in opposite directions, of a pivotally mounted cam comprising a pair of lugs each arranged to engage and to move with one of the push buttons, a hollow handle extending radially from the cam, the handle having a perforate diaphragm therein "for dividing the interior of the handle into a pair of communicating chambers, the perforation in the diaphragn'i being disposed at the side of the handle remote from the push buttons, a fluid contained within the handle for passage between the chambers for moving one cam and its respective push button jointly, and a re lcasable means for holding the handle against movement.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 1 day of November, 1923.

IVILLIAM STIERS KISINGER. JAMES ASA ENSLEY. 

